A guest post written by Jennifer Glaser

The Santa Monica Christian Science Church recently hosted an area Interfaith Meeting to discuss the topic: “Science and Faith: Are these compatible, in conflict, or irrelevant to each other?” Although spirituality has been the core of healing as far back as human existence, physical scientists, including those in the medical community, have not recognized it as legitimate method until recently. Increasingly, though, modern medicine is convinced that a holistic approach to science and spirituality is necessary for healing.

This meeting was opened with prayer by a Sikh member who expressed gratitude for all the goodness of Mother/Father God, for all life, and for the opportunity to hold the meeting with friends of many faiths. After the prayer, the discussion of science and faith started with a Muslim member who asked for a Christian Scientist to explain what is meant by the words Christian and science, why they are linked, and how this teaching can heal the body.

This was answered by a member raised as an Orthodox Jew who related how she had witnessed a smashed face injured by a fall that was healed to physical perfection within one hour. There had no logical explanation for the fast change. The teenager who was the victim just said, “I’m a Christian Scientist and so I prayed.” This member just had to know how this “biblical-like” healing had occurred and so began to study Christian Science, to practice it, and became a life-long student – proving many ways that Christian Science prayer can heal all inharmonious situations in life.

After this personal account, a passage from Science and Health was read to explain what science means, “The term Science, properly understood, refers only to the laws of God and to His government of the universe, inclusive of man.” The importance of Jesus’ demonstrations of healing and his transcending many physical laws of matter, including the threat that our being is temporary, was shared. Understanding Jesus’ demonstrations allows for the understanding of our eternal and spiritual being as God’s image. It was also explained that the Christ is the nature of God that we can all understand to follow Jesus’ example.

After an engaging discussion, the meeting closed with a sense of joy in being able to share how each person’s understanding was used in overcoming life’s challenges on a daily basis. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share Christian Science with other people of faith and hear how they conduct their lives in service to their communities.